Carpet-stretcher



- 'NTTED STATES PATENT Trice.

HENRY O. DETERT, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CARPET-STRETC H ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 262,380, dated August 8, 1882.

- Application filed April 18, 1882. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY O. DETERT, of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Carpet-Stretcher,

of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention consists of a pair of jaws to grip the edge of the carpet, mounted upon one end of a little stock, which has points at the other end to secure foothold on the floor, the jaws and the stock being so arranged that, the carpet being turned back under itself at the edge and over the jaw end of the stretcher and gripped in the jaws, and the points of the stock set in the floor under and back of the edge of the carpet, pressure on the stretcher causes the jaws to swing and stretch the carpet, and the tension of the carpet tightens the jaws on it and also insures the foothold of the stock in the floor.

The invention also consists of points, in combination with the jaws, that may be used or not in connection with them for holding the carpet more securely than thejaws alone will hold it, all as hereinafter described.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved carpet-stretcher, with dotted lines showing the manner of gripping the carpet, also with dotted lines showing the position of the movable jaw when open. Fig. 2 is a plan of the improved carpet-stretcher with the jaws open,

' and Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the movable jaw.

A represents the stock, which consists of a little metal skeleton plate about ten inches (more or less) long and about three wide, having points B at one end suitably for securing foothold on the floor for a fulcrum, and at the other end said stock is constructed with the bevel serrated face 0 for the stationary jaw.

D represents two curved arms projecting from the side of the stock back of the upper edge of serrated face 0, then turning forward and downward in front of and below said serrated face, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, to support the pivots E of the movable jaw F, which has serrated face G, corresponding to face 0, and it also hasits backHconstructed on about the same curvature as that of the arms D, so that when the carpet is engaged by the jaws and drawn back over them, as represented by the dotted lines Q in Fig. 1, the tension ofthe carpet will cause it to press jaw F tightly againstjaw 0.-

Between the face G and back H of jaw F, which is of skeleton form, there is a bar,J, ex-

tending from side to side of the jaw and pivoted to the rod E, which forms the pivot of jaw F, which plate isarmed with pointed spurs K, which are to project through openings in the back H when it is desired to grip the carpet more powerfully than the jaws alone will do. They are made to project, when required to do so, by the latch L, pivoted to it at M, and dropping down into the position shown by the dotted lines, Fig. 3, when the points Kare thrust out, so as to firmly secure them in that position by resting against the back of face G. When the points are required not to project the latch is shifted into the position represented by the full lines in Fig. 3, when the bar J is shifted back, as there shown also in full lines, and where the devices are secured by a spring, N. In this example the faceG is made separately from the rest of jaw F, and is scoured thereto by ears 0 and rivetsP; butthey may be constructed together in one piece, if desired.

The operation of the device is as follows: Suppose one end of the carpet to be secured to the floor. Then hold the stretcher in one hand, with the points B of the prongs down and toward you, with the jaws elevated and open. Then pass the oppositeor free edge of the carpet under two curved arms, D, and resting on the stationaryjaw 0. Then close the movable jaw F. The stretcher is then turned over from you, under the carpet, and set into position,with the prongs B resting on the floor,with the carpet above it. The outer end of the stretcher is then brought down upon the floor, the points B acting as pivots, and the stretcher as a stretching-lever.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with stock A, having points B, serrated face 0, and arms D, of pivoted jaw F, having serrated face G, substam tially as described.

The combination of the adjustable bar J, having points K, with jaw F, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the adjustable bar J, having points K, with jaws F O and stock A,

with the adjustable pointed bar J and jaw F, substantially as described.

6. The stock A for a carpet-stretcher, having points B, serrated face G, and arms 1), constructed and arranged substantially as de- 15 substantially as described. scribed.

4. The combination of latchL with thepoint- HENRY O. DETERT. ed adjustable bar J and jaw 1*, substantially Witnesses:

as described.

5. The combination of latch L and springN ED\VARD D. LANDERS, EDWIN J. Soo'r'r. 

